Machine for processing food products



Oct. 5, 1943. Y H. GRIFFIN 1-AL 2,330,967

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS Filed nec. 2, 1959 12 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYS 0%l 5, 1943- H. L.. GIFFIN ErL 2,330,967

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING vFOOD PRODUCTS A TTORNEYS Oct, 5, 1943. H. l.. GRIFFIN E-rAL 330,?67

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING\FOOD PRODUCTS I Filed Dec. 2, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 l /NvE/vroes A TTORNEYS oct. 5, 1943.'

H. L. GRIFFIN ETAL MACHINE FOR PROCESSING 4FOOD PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 2, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Oct. 5, 1943. H. L. GRIFFIN ETAL MACHINE FOR PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS l Filed Dec. 2, 1939 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATToRNEYs Oct. 5, 1943. H. L. GRIFFIN ErL 2,330,967

MACHINE FCR PROCESSING FooD PRODUCTS Filed Deo. 2; 1959 l2 Sheets-Sheet 6 'I Harl/ z/g H. L. GRIFFIN ETAL MACI-IINE FOR PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 2, 1959 12 Imf T 194 Sheets-Sheet 7 /NvE/v voed A TTORNEY Oct. 5, 1943. H. GRIFFIN :r1-Al.v

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 2, 1939 l2 Sheets-Sheet 8 BY Mhm,

A T T ORNEYS Oct. 5 1943. H. L GRIFFIN Erm.

MACHINE FOR PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS ATTORNEYS 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 :f1 q.

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MACHINE FOR PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 2, 1959 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 www Patented Oct. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOB PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS Application December 2, 1939, Serial No. 307,244

21 Claims. (Cl. 126-272) Our invention relates to a new and improved machine for processing food products.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide an improved machine for treating canned -milk, and more\particularly to sterilize canned milk.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine which will have one or more series or sets of casings. Each said series of casings may 1y discharged `from the same. By having asufll-v cient number of sets of casings, the machine will operate continuously, although the cans are treated in batches. Air o r water or' steam will always be supplied to one or more ofthe sets of casings.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved control unit 'whereby all the operations are performed automatically, said control unit being conveniently adjustable so as to'allow for variations in the respective batches of canned milk.

Another object of our invention is-to provide a control unit which can be used for controlling any desired number of serles.of casings so that the machine will operate continuously toreceive and to discharge cans, if desired, although -the cans of milk are supplied intermittently to the respective sets of casings= i Other objects of our invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view o f the improved machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, partially in ele- This spray-head is also used for admitting air into the casings.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged diagrammatic view, showing the mechanism for rotating the respective sets of tracks in the respective casings about the respective axes of said casings.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, on the line Ill-I 0 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a partial top plan view of the lefthand side of Fig. 4.

Fig. 12 represents one of the control sub-units which can be used in connection with the main control unit which is shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a detail view showing one of the\ elements of the control unit, including a control switch.

Fig. 14 is an end view taken at the right-hand side of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a detail view of the respective pipe lines which are connected to sources of water, air and steam, together with the control mechanism and the common header for said respective pipe lines.

Fig. 15A is a detail of the pressure-regulating means of the steam valve system which'is shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, showing the electric-eye means for detecting and rejecting bulged cans.

Fig. 17 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing one of the valves which serve, either as inlet valves or outlet valves, and which are located at each end of each casing of the apparatus.

Fig. 17 shows said valve in theopen position.

` Fig. 18 is an end elevation. partially in section, taken at the left-hand side of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a detail top plan view of the closure flap of the valve o1' Fig. 17, including the hinge for said iiap.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view, showing the sprayehead which is used in the respective casmgs for projecting steam and also for projecting cooling water upon the cans and also between the cans which are located in the closed casings.

Fig. 20 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, on the line 2li-20 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 21 is a detail view of the mechanism for opening and closing the inlet and outlet valves of the respective casings.

` Fig. 22 is a detail view of the composite link which is one of the elements shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 23 is the same as Fig. 22, save that Figs. 22 and 23 show different relative positions of the parts of said composite link.

Fig. 24 is a detail view of the piston-type motor for operating said inlet valves and said outlet valves.

Fig. 24A diagrammatically shows the valve for controlling the admission of air to either end of the cylinder of said pistontype motor.

Fig. 25 is a detail view of the mechanism for controlling the movement of the cans on the tracks so as to admit the proper number of cans into each casing.

Fig. 26 is a detail section on the line 26-26 of Fig. 25.

Figs. 27-30 show a complete diagram of the circuits of the control unit.

In this embodiment, only a single set of casings is illustrated, as the illustration of additional sets would be mere duplication.

The filled and soldered cans are delivered to the respective tubular casings 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a, by means of conventional downwardly-inclined tracks which have control-stops. Each track has longitudinally spaced pairs of movable stops S. Each track is rst lled With cans up to its respective anterior pair of stops S. Said anterior stops are then moved to inoperative position, so that each track can receive the cans up to its second pair of stops. The anterior stops are then moved back to operative position, and the posterior stops are then moved to inoperative position. These stops are operated by identical mechanism, which is shown in Fig. 25.

As shown in Fig. 25, the stop-arms 6 are arranged and operated in pairs. The stop-arms a are similarly arranged and operated. In Fig. 25, the full-line positions of arms 6 indicate their operative positions, and the broken-line positions of said arms indicate their inoperative positions. Fig. 25 shows the cans C which are respectively located lon the tracks 2 and 3, which supply cans to the casings 2a and 3a. Each track has a U- shaped cross-section so that the cans can slide or roll relative to the tracks. The stop-arms 6 are mounted freely on respective shafts 1. 'I'hese shafts 1 have gear-sectors 8 keyed thereto and said gear sectors 8 intermesh. One of said sectors 8 is pivotally connected to a link 9 which is pivotally connected to the arm II) of the armature shaft II of an electric motor I2. Said arm I0 can be connected directly to said shaft, or by speed-reduction gears. This motor I2 is of a conventional and well-known type which is used for opening and closing valves. It has two circuits which can be respectively energized for turning the motor shaft in respective opposite directions. When the motor shaft has been turned through a predetermined arc, internal automatic means which are provided as an accessory to the motor, open the respective operating circuit. These motors are shaded-pole reversing motors which have integral transformers. They are known commercially as type M motors, made by Automatic Temperature Control Inc. of New York, N. Y. When one of the circuits of this motor I2 is energized so as to turn its shaft in one direction, the arm I0 is turned from the lower position shown in Fig. 25 to the upper position which is shown by means of a broken line Illa and said motor I2 is then automatically stopped. Upon reversing said motor I2 by energizing its other circuit, the arm I0 is turned back from the position I 0a, to the bottom position shown in Fig. 25, and said other circuit is then opened. The automatic means which we have provided for controlling motor I2 are shown in Fig. 12, and said automatic means are later described. As shown in Fig. 26, each stop-arm 6 rests upon a lug of the respective sector 8. Each stop-arm 6 has a spring I4 connected to a lug 6b thereof and to a lug 8a of the associated sector 8. This provides a yielding free movement between each stop-arm 6 and its sector 8 so that the cans are not damaged if, when the arms 6 are moved to their operative positions, said arms contact with cans C.

The cans are `transferred to the respective casings through inlet-valves, one of which is shown in Fig. 17 in the open position. Each casing 2a, 3a', 4a and 5a has one of said inletvalves.

The inlet-valve shown in Fig. 17 has a valvecasing I5, part of which is located in a head I6, which abuts an annular ange of the associated casing. Fig. 17 shows the inlet-valve of the casing 3a.

The valve includes a valve-flap I1 which is pivotally mounted at I8 to a hinge-member i9 which is rigidly secured to the casing I5. The valve-ap I1 is pivotally connected by transverse pivot-rod 20, which is also shown in Fig. 19, to links 2| which are pivotally -connected to rockarms 22 which are keyed to a rock shaft 23. Additional links 24 are pivotally connected at 25 to arms 26 which are pivotally connected at 21 to the casing I5. The links 2l and 24 are freely turnable relative to pivot-rod 20.

'I'he arms 26 are rigidly connected to a transverse angular member 28 which supports a supplemental track-section 29 of the track 3. This track-section 29 bridges the gap between the track 3 and the rails T of its associated casing 3a, when the valve-ilap I1 is in the open position shown in Fig. 17. v When the valve-flap I1 is in the closed position, the track-section 29 is depressed from the position shown in Fig. 17. The closed position of the valve I1 is indicated by the line I1a in Fig. 17. It is therefore necessary to lower the track-section 29 in order to allow the valve-flap I1 to move to the closed position. The valve-seat of the valve-casing I5 is provided with the usual gasket 30, for providing a steamtight and air-tight closure when valve-flap I1 abuts said gasket. The respective valve-mechanisms are of identical construction and they are opened and closed in proper timed relation by a single control unit. The underside of the valve-ap I1 is provided With lugs I1b which act as a guide for the tops of the cans when they move oif the tracks 3, over track-section 29, to the rails T of the associated casing.

When the stop-arms 6a of any of the tracks are moved to their inoperative positions, and the stop-arms 6 are held in the stop position, the valve-flap I1 of the respective casing is also opened and a predetermined number of cans roll by gravity to the rails T of the respective casing.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 17, the common longitudinal axis of the casing 3a and of its rails T is also downwardly inclined so that the cans C fill the rails T of the respective casing under the force of gravity. These casings 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and their associated parts are identical. Each said casing has an outlet valve which is identical with said inlet valve.

Each of the four casings 2a-5a is maintained stationary, but the downwardly inclined rails T of each casing are turned relative to the downwardly inclined axis of the respective casing.

Each inlet valve is providedl with a pair of closure members 3| which close the inlet ends of the tracks of the respective casings, when the valve-nap I1 is closed. Each closure member 3| is connected by means of a ball-and-socket joint 32, to a link 33 which is pivotally connected at 34 to the rock arm 22. Hence, when the respective members 3| are in the operative or closing position, they are aligned with rails T and they can turn in unison with the rails T relative by means of the universal ball-and-socket joint 32.

The casings of the inlet-valves and of the outlet-valves have conventional vent-valves V.

Fig. shows the four angular tracks or rails T of the casing 3a.

As shownin Fig. 17, each closure member 3| is pivotally connected by pins 32a to a ring 33a. Each of the brackets 34a is connected to a pair of the rails T and each of these brackets 34a is connected by a pivot 35 to the ring 33a. The ring 33a can turn relative to the brackets 34a, by means of the pivots 35, about an axis which is defined by the line 36-35 in Fig. 20. Each closure member 3| can turn relative to the respective ring 33a, about the pivots 32a, around an axis which is perpendicular to the axis dened by said line 36-36. Therefore, when the rails T turn in unison with the associated brackets 34a and the associated ring 33a, around the longitudinal axis of the respective casing, there is a relative free motion between the ring 33a and said associated rails T, so that if a closure member 3| is not in the predetermined position when the associated rails T are rotated, there is no tendency to open the respective valve-flap I1. This makes it unnecessary to have the links 33 of precisely the correct length. The rails T are connected by any suitable lateral truss members in order to provide a strong and rigid assembly.

As shown in Fig. 2, the four rails T of each casing 2a-5a are connected to each other at suitable spaced intervals, by means of spaced collars 31. One of these collars can be located at the rear end of each set of rails T.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 20, the rails T are of angular cross-section. Two` of said rails T of each set have cross-sectional angles of 90 and the other two rails of each set have cross-sectional obtuse angles. This provides allowance for a defective or bulging can without allowing any substantial relative lateral movement between the cans and the rails, when the rails in a casing are rotated about their common longitudinal axis. If one or more of the rails T did not have said obtuse angles it would be necessary to provide a loose fit between the cans and the rails, in order to make allowance for bulged` cans. During the period of agitation, this loose fit would permit some free lateral movement between perfect .cans and the rails, whereby the cans would slap in the rails, thus producing considerable foam in the milk. This foam is highly objectionable because it hinders proper heat transfer and the presence of foam would produce various objectionable characteristics in the processed milk.

As shown in Fig. 5, each ring or collar 31 is held spaced from the inner wall of the associated casing, by a series of anti-friction rolls 39. Each anti-friction roll 39 is turnably connected to a head 40. 'I'here is a slight clearance between collars 31 and rolls 39. Referring to Fig. 17, when the valve-flaps I1 are opened, arms 26 strike tracks T so as to jar said tracks. 'Ihe outlet valves are then open. If any cans remain in a casing, this jar will cause the cans to roll out of the casing. Each casing is provided with radial projections 4|, whose inner walls have shoulders. Said inner walls are threaded :at 42. The inner end of each head 40 abuts the shoulder of the inner wall of the respective projection 4 I A threaded plug 42a holds each head 40 in position. Each projection 4| is provided with a cap 43.

Fig. '1 shows the-ring gear 38 in detail. The collars 31 which are located adjacent the ring as shown in full lines in Fig.

gear 38, are provided with longitudinal arms 31a which are connected to thrust collars 44. Rolls are suitably turnably connected to the inner wall of the associated casing and these rolls 45 abut the respective opposed faces of the thrustcollars 44, so as to prevent any longitudinal movement of the rails T, relative to the respective casing. The collars 31 are suitably fixed to the ring gears 38.

Referring to Fig. 9, the four casings 2a-5a are arranged in pairs, each pair having a common closed header 46, which is also shown in Fig. 2. 'I'he gears 38 are arranged in pairs and each pair of gears 38 meshes with a drive gear 41, which is located in said header. The drive shaft 48 has bevel gears 49 which mesh with corresponding bevel gears on the shafts of the drive gears 41. The drive shaft 48 also has a bevel gear 50 which meshes with the bevel gear 5| of a shaft 52. The tracks of the respective casings are turned a single revolution for each revolution of shaft 52, so that the soldered tops of the respective cans are in the desired relation for proper packing, after the cans are discharged from the casings. The shaft 52 has a drive sprocket 53. The sprocket chain for driving the sprocket 53 from the sprocket 53a of the shaft of the motor 54, is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This motor 54 is stopped and started at predetermined intervals by the control unit.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the shaft 52 passes through spaced discs |05, which are keyed to said shaft. Said discs |05 have hubs |09, which provided a bearing for an intermediate disc |06, which can turn freely relative to the discs |05 and the shaft 52. A pin |01 passes through the disc |06, and said pin |01 clears the discs |05. Each of the discs |05 is provided with a laterally projecting pin |08. Tension springs ||0 connect the pin |01 to the respective pins |08. Stop members are rigidly connected to each of the discs |05. The tension springs I| 0 normally maintain the recessed ends of said stop members III in contact with the pin |01 of the disc |06, l0. The shaft 52 is turned in the direction of Vthe arrow of Fig. 10, together with the discs |05. A slide rod ||2 is mounted in bearings II4. A tension spring ||5 is connected to one of the bearings ||4 and also to a pin IIB which is connectedto the slide rod I I2, so that said slide rod I2 normally clears the recess which is provided in the disc |05.

As shown in Fig. 9, a governor which has balls I 23, is operated by gear means |24 and |25 from the shaft 52. When the speed of the governor falls below a predetermined speed, and the pivoted arms on which the balls |23 are mounted move towards each other until they make a predetermined angle, said arms actuate a plunger |26, which closes a switch |21. This switch controls the circuit of a solenoid ||1a, which is located in casing I I1. The control of said solenoid is later described herein. When this solenoid is thus energized, its plunger II8 is moved downwardly thus turning the arm ||9 and the shaft |20. An arm |2| of the shaft |20 has a forked end which embraces the pin |22 of the rod I|2.

lTherefore, when the solenoid in casing ||1 is energized, the rod ||2 is moved into the recess of the disc |05, thus stopping the turning movement of said disc. When disc |06 is stationary and when its recess is engaged by rod I|2, the tracks of each casing are arranged in superposed pairs. as shown in Fig. 5,`for example, so that an inner sleeve 19. freely on intermediate sleeve 18. Hubs 80, which each track then has a leg whose cross-section is in a horizontal plane.

The momentum of the motor 54 and of the associated parts causes the same to turn at diminishing speed, when the circuit of motor 54 is opened, until the governor operates the plunger |26, to close'the circuit of the solenoid in casing H1. The rod I l2 is then moved to stop the rotation of the disc |86 and the springs H0 permit the further limited turning movement of the shaft 52, without any severe shock upon the mechanism. When the shaft 52 is stationary, the springs IIB move the stops back to the normal full-line position shown in Fig. 10, in which the recessed ends of said stops abut the pin |01. The bearings ||4 may have resilient bottom supports.

The cans which are fed out of each casing are delivered by vconventional means to a respective turntable 51, lwing the usual pockets for receiving the cans. Each turntable 51 is actuated by a motor 51a, which drives the pulley 51c ofthe shaft of bevel gear 51d, by means of belt 51b. The underside of each turntable has a bevel gear which meshes with a bevel gear 51d. Each can is tilted as it is received in a pocket of the respective turntable 51, so that the cans are located on their ends in said pockets. An electric-eye device is associated with each turntable 51. Each said electric-eye device includes a. lamp 58 and a photo-electric cell 59. If the top of a can is bulged, so as to intercept the beam of light from the lamp to the photo-electric cell 59, this operates a conventional relay which causes the cans to be delivered .to the rejecting can tracks.

The complete circuit of the photo-electric cell and of its relay and of the solenoid 68 is not shown, as this is a conventional commercial unit per se. The plunger A6| of the solenoid 60 is lowered when solenoid 60 is energized, thus actuating the bell-crank support 62, which is pivoted at 63 and which is connected to the rod ofthe plunger 6| at 64b. The plunger 6| is raised to normal position by spring B4.

Said bell-crank 62 has a can-support 54a. The imperfect cans are therefore not. supported by member 64a, when the solenoid 60 is energized, and said imperfect cans drop to the rejecting tracks. The good cans roll into the packing department along other tracks.

Fig. 4 shows the primary shaft 65 of the control unit, which is mounted in the frame F of the machine. Shaft 65 is driven at constant yspeed by a synchronous motor 65a. The shaft 65 has a worm 66 which drives the worm gear 61. The shaft of the worm gear 61 has a spur gear 68 which meshes with a larger spur gear 69.V

in unison with gear 69 upon and relative to a first or outer sleeve 14, to which the -hubs 15 are keyed. The drum 12 therefore turns freely relative to hubs 15. Each hub 15 has an arm 11. The hubs 15 are adjacent hubs 18, which have mediate sleeve 18 which is mounted turnably on The outer sleeve 14 turns have arms 8|, are keyed to the inner sleeve 18.

'I'he arms 82 have hubs which are keyed to the shaft 84, on which the sleeve 18 is freely turnable.

The axis of shaft 84 coincides with the axis of rotation of the gear 69.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, one of the arms 82 has a bearing in which a worm 82a is mounted. This worm 82a meshes with the stationary worm gear 10. By manually turning the worm 82a, the inclination of the arms 82 in the vertical plane of Fig. 4 can be adjusted. This simultaneously turns the bar A, which is connected to arms 82, about the axis of shaft 84. The face of the stationary worm gear 10 may be provided with a scale of angles in order to indicate this adjustment.

One of the arms 8| has a worm 8|a which is turnably mounted in a suitable bearing of said arm. Said worm Bia also meshes with the stationary worm-gear 18. Said worm Bla is turned by means of a member 8|b which is turnably mounted in a bearing which is also suitably connected to said arm 8|. Said member 8|b has a bevel gear 86 which meshes'with a bevel gear of the bar A.

arms 16a. Said hubs 16 are keyed t: an inter- The arm 8| which has the bearing for the worm 8|a, also has another bearing for a second worm 11o. The worms 8|a and 11e are identical. The worm 11e can be turned by means of a member 11b, which is turnably mounted in a bearing which is supported by said arm 8|. The member 11b has a bevel gear 9| which meshes with a corresponding bevel gear which is provided on the shaft of the worm 11c.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a worm gear 92 which is rigidly connected to one of the hubs 18'. Therefore, when the arms 8| are angularly adjusted by turning the worm 8|a, the worm gear 82 is simulftaneously turned through the same angle as the arms 8|, thus turning the hubs 16 and the intermediate sleeve 18 in unison with the arms 8|. The arms 16a of the hubs 16 carry a control bar D which is identical with the bars A and C. Therefore, when the worm 8|a is turned by turn'- ing the member 8|b, and the member 11b and the worm 11e are not turned, the control bars C and D are adjusted in unison through the same arc or angle.

One of the arms 11 has a worm 11a, which can be turned manually. Said worm 11a meshes with the worm gear 92. Therefore, when the member 8 Ib is turned, and the member 11b is not turned, the rotation of the worm gear 92 turns the arms 11 by means of worm 11a, together with the control bar E which is connected to said arms 11. 'Ihe control bar E is identical with the control bars A, C and D. Therefore, when member 8|b is turned alone, the arms C, D and E are adjusted simultaneously through the same arc or angle.

The bar B is identical with the` bars A, C, D and E. Said bar B is xed to the frame F, so that said bar B remains stationary at all times.

If the member 11b is turned and the member 8|b is not turned, the gear 82 is turned and the arms 82 remain stationary. The bars A and C will then remain stationary, but the bars D and E will be turned simultaneously through the same arc or angle.

By turning the worm 11a while gear 82 is stationary, the arc or angle between the arms 11 and 16a is adjusted.

Each of these five bars A, B, C, D and E has a The heads 95 have-respective switches which are biased either to normal open position or to normal closed position, as will be later more fully described. l

Fig. 12\ shows the construction 01""` said heads` and of said switches and it illustrates'tone of the electrical relays which is used throughout the apparatus.

In Fig. 12 the switch X has blades 96 and 91 which are insulated from each other and from the head 95. These blades are biased to a normal open position.' 'I'he blade 91 has a cam projection 91h. When the head 98 o1' the drum 12 is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 12, said head 98 will actuate the switch blade 91, so'as to close the circuit between the blades 96 and 91. The switch Y has blades 96d and 91d which are biased to normal circuit closing position. The blade 96d has a cam projection 96h;

' Thereore the head 98wi1l open the circuit between the blades 91d and 96d.. These switch blades are made of suitable resilient metal.

Fig. 12 shows the motor |2v which operates one oi' the sets of stop-arms 6 and 6a, or both o1' said sets. If e single motor I2 operates bothsets oiv stop-arms 6 and 6a, said motor is connected to said respective sets by suitable conventional links, so that the stop-arms are actuated in opposite directions. In this embodiment there is a single head 98 whose length is equal to the axial length of the drum 12. However the drum 12 may have a plurality of heads, each head controlling the switches of one oi' the sets of casings. 'I'hese heads could be spaced longitudinally from each other on the drum 12, and they would be circumierentially offset relative to each other. and all the control switches for the respective sets oi." casings can be mounted on one set. of bars. In this embodiment we have shown only one set o1 casings 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a, but there may be any desired number of such sets or series of caslngs.

94, the head is xed relativelto its bar by screws blade |04 so as to separate'it from vthe contact |04b andalso to cdntact saidswitch arm, |04 with the terminal IMG. e The Switch' blade |05.

which is biased to the open position, is simultaneoisly moved so as to contact with the terminal- Illq. This opens one of the circuits oi the motor v I2 and closes the other circuit of the motdr I2,

'I'he sets oi' casings and their appurtenant parts l can thus be operated in succession. The motor I2 is supplied with current through the line 2| 8.

This current may be 110 volts, 6|)` cycles.

Fig. 12 also shows the six-volt line, having the wires W and Wa, 'whereby current is supplied to the coil orsolenoid |00. This six-volt current may be an alternating current and the relay |00 is of the type which produces a magnetic force of fixed direction, although it is energized by alternating current.

This motor I2 has two circuits, so that said motor 4is turned in one direction or in the opposite direction. depending on which of said circuits is closed. One of said circuits is open when the other circuit is closed. One of these circuits has the contact terminal |04b and the other circuit has` the contact terminal |04a. In Fig. 12 the switch-arm |04 is shown in contact with the terminal I04b, and spaced from the terminal |04a. 'I'he motor I2 has a conventional control so as to reverse the position of the corresponding stop arm or other part which may be actuated by the respective motor. When the circuit-locking switch blade |05 touches the contact |05a, the circuit -oi the solenoid |00 is closed through the normally contacting switch blades 96d and 91d oi' switch Y. Blade 96d is connected to switch arm |05 by wire I00a, and blade 91d is connected to wire W by wire IOI. Therefore, the circuit o! the solenoid |00 remains closed, even after its circuit has been opened at switch X, and said circuit will remain closed until its circuit has been opened at the switch Y by head 98. When the circuit is thus opened at Y,the rod |03 is moved upwardly by the conventional biasing spring (not shown), so as to open the circuit at the members |05 and |05a, and to move the switch blade |04 back into contact with the terminal |04b. The motor I 2 is therefore now operated in a direction reverse to the preceding direction of operation, until its shaft has been moved through a predetermined angle.

Fig. 15 shows an air-inlet pipe |50, a waterinlet pipe I5| and a steam-inlet pipe |52. 'I'he air-inlet pipe |50 is controlled by the hand valve |53 and it has the pressure gauge |54. Behind the pressure gauge |54, said air-,inlet pipe |50 is connected to branch pipes |55 and |56. In this embodiment, whichhas only four casings, said four casings are operated simultaneously. That is, their inlet valves are opened simultaneously, said four casings are simultaneously lled with cans, lthe processing in each casing is simultaneous, and the valves at the outlet ends of said four casings are opened simultaneously. The inlet valves oi said tour casings are operated simultaneously by a iirst piston-type motor |51 which is shown in Fig. 24, and the outlet valves of said four casings are controlled simultaneously by a second and identical piston-type motor I 51a.

As shown in Fig. 15, the air-inlet pipe |50 is connected through a hand-operated valve ISI to the branch pipes |55 and |56. The compressed air which is admitted through pipe |55 operates motor |51, and the compressed air which is admitted through'pipe |56 operates motor |51a. Said motors and their control mechanisms are identical. These motors are of a conventional type and they are not illustrated fin detail.

As shown'in Fig. 24A, pipe |55 is connected to a duct 236 having spaced outlet ends which are controlled by slide-valve 24|. This duct is provided in a valve-casing in which valve 24| is slidable. Said slide-valve 24| has ports 231 and 238. One of said ports registers with one end of duct 236 when the other port is outof registration with the other end of said duct. The valve-casing in which duct 236 is located also has an exhaust duct 239. When the slide-valve is in the position shown in Fig. 24A, the air passes out ofduct 236, through the port 238 and pipe 235, intothe right-hand end of the cylinvder of motor |51, so as to actuate piston 240 to slide-valve 24| is shifted so that its port 231 registers with the left-hand vend of duct 236,

` pivotally connected to the arm |50 of a bell-crank, which is keyed to the shaft Said bell-crank has a second arm |50a. As shown in Fig. 21, said bell-crank arm |50a is forked. The two branches of the arm |500 are pivotally connected to the forked ends of links 52 and |53. As shown iny Fig. 22, the link I 52 is adjustably connected by means of cooperating threads to an extension |54, which is slidable in a collar |55 which is rigidly connected to a sleeve |55. The member |54 has an extension |54a, which is of reduced thickness so as to provide a shoulder. The collar |51 is slidable within the sleeve |55. A spring |58 has one end abutting theslidable collar |51, and the other end of said spring |58 abuts the shoulder of-an inner sleeve |59, in which the extension |54a is slidably located. The sleeve |59 is held from downward movement relative to the sleeve |55 by means of an insert |10 which is rigidly connected to the sleeve |55. .The lower end of the extension |54a is externally threaded,

and a tapped ring 1| is held upon said exterlprovided with a clearance |12. The bottom of the sleeve |55 is provided with lateral bores |55a through which the pivot-pin |13 (see Fig. 17) is passed. This pivot-pin also passes through the external arm 23a of shaft 23. The forked link |53 is connected by the same type of connectingmeans to the inlet valve of casing 5a. The branches of the arm |50a thus operate the inlet valves of the casings 5a and 3a. The member |14, which is similar to the forked arm |50a, is keyed tothe shaft |5| and it operates the inlet valves of the casings 4a and 2a, by connecting-means of the type abovedescribed.

The piston-type motor |51a similarly operates all the outlet valves of the four casings, by means of connecting-means of the said type.

Pipes |50, |5| and |52 are connected to a'. common distribution pipe |15. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this distribution pipe |15 is connected to a pipe |a. Each of the respective ends of pipe |15a is connected to two pipes |15b which are connected to the respective distributing headers |18 of the casings 2a, 3a, 4a., 5a. Each distributing header |19 has a liquid-tight and air-tight packing |19 as shown in Figs. 56 and 8, and said packing is perforated between the edge flanges of the header |18 so as to admit nozzles |19a through which the air or water or steam are admitted into the respective casing.-

. ing.

The air-inlet and water-inlet pipes |50 and f |5| are provided with motor-operated valves |80 and |8I. l

When the hand-valve |53 is opened, air under pressure is continuously supplied to the pipes |55 v 2,830,967 the direction of movement oi' the piston 240 is and |55. The pressure of the air which is thus supplied to the pipes |55 and |55 is controlled by the regulating valvev |9I. Likewise, the pressure of the air which is supplied to the pipe |15 is controlled by the regulating valve |90. The pipe |50 is also provided with a check-valve |93 which prevents any reverse ow of fluid from the pipe |15.v The vwater-supply pipe |5| has the usual handvalve |92. Said pipe |5| also has a check valve |94 which prevents any reverse flow of fluid from the pipe |15. The steam inlet pipe |52 also has a hand-operated valve |95 and a check-valve |95. The steam-inlet pipe `|52 is also provided with a `pressure gauge |91 and a separator |98 for separating oil or the like from the steam. y

The steam-inlet pipe |52 is connected between its ends to a valve casing |99, as shown in Fig. 15A. Said valve-casing |99 has a valve 200 which is normally kept closed by the steam pressure in the left-hand branch of the pipe |52. This type of valve is of conventional type and it is known commercially as the Spence dead-end valve. 'I'he vvalve 200 is connected to a spindle 20| which is connected to a flexible diaphragm 202, which is clamped between the casing |99 and a cap 203 so as to provide a steam-tight closure. The area of the diaphragm 202 is greater than the maximum area of the valve 200. Therefore, if the underside of the diaphragm 202 is subjected to a pressure which is equal to the pressure of the steam in the left-hand branch of pipe |52, said f diaphragm 202 is flexed upwardly, thus raising the valve 200 from its seat and establishing communication between the two branches of the pipe |52. Spring 2 |2 biases the valve 200 to its closed position, so that said valve 200 is normally closed. The pipe 204 has its lower end in communication with the left-hand branch of the pipe |52. The upper end of said pipe 204 is connected to an annular pipe 201, which is connected by means of a branch pipe 205 to the space below the diaphragm 202. At the left-hand side of pipe 204, said pipe 201 has'a solenoid-operated valve 208 and it also has a pressure-regulating valve in a casing 209. At the right-hand side of said pipe 204, said pipe 201 has a pressure-regulating valve in a casing 209a and a solenoid-controlled valve 2|0. There are thus two lines which are arranged in parallel between the pipe 204 and the space below the diaphragm 202. 'I'he valve in casing 209 is regulated so as to provide low-pressure steam and the valve in casing 209a is regulated so as to provide high-pressure steam. The high pressure may be about 28 lbs. per square inch above atmospheric pressure, and the low pressure may be about 4 lbs. per square inch above atmospheric pressure. The lower end of the pipe 205 is in communication with the righthand branch of the pipe |52 and the upper end of said pipe 205 is connected to a U-shaped pipe 2| The ends of the pipe 2|| are connected to the annular pipe 201. The valves 208, 2|0 and the valve-casings 209 and 209a are located intermediate the endsof the pipe 2| The pipes 205 and 2|| provide a bleeder for the relief of pressure under the diaphragm 202. When the valve 208 is opened, steam fiows from the lefthand branch of the pipe |52 into the space below the diaphragm 202, thus raising the valve 200. When the valve 2 I0 is opened and the valve 208 is closed, the valve 200 is also raised and the regulating valve in casing 209a causes steam to be supplied to the right-hand branch of the pipe |52 at the above mentioned relatively high pressure.

One end of pipe 2| la is connected to valve-casings 200 and 209a. The o ther end of said pipe 2| la is connected to casings 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a: The

pressure-regulating valves in casings 209 and 209a are not shown, as this type of valve is conventional. It is sufficient to state that each casing 209 and 209a has a diaphragm-operated valve of the type shown in Fig. 15A, and a spring which biases the valve to open position. 'I'he pressure in the casings 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, is transmitted through pipe 2| la to the diaphragms in casings 209 and 209a. rWhen the `pressure in casing 209 reaches the desired low limit, the diaphragm in casing 209 closes the low-pressure valve. 'I'he steam 4which is then trapped under diaphragm 202 can then pass through pipes 201 and 2|| and 205, to the right-hand branch of pipe |52. 'I'he pipes 201 and 2|| and 205 also operate as a bleeder for said trapped steam, when the high-pressure valve in casing 209a is closed.

As shown in Fig. 2, the casings 4a and 5a are connected to a common drain pipe 220 by couplings 22|. Casings 2a and 3a are connected to a common drain pipe 220a by couplings 222. 'I'hese drain pipes have drain valves 226a, which are operated by the arms 226 of motors 221a. Each casing has a low-pressure control 33|, a pressure gauge 223, a thermometer 224, and a safety high-V pressure control 225.

For convenience, it is assumed that the cycle of operation of the machine begins when the respective casings 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a have been loaded with cans. At the beginning of the cycle, the

rear outlet valves of said casings are closed and their front inlet valves are'open. The motor 54 is stationary, and the stap rod H2 is in locking position. The tracks T are then arranged as shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the tracks of each casing being arranged in superposed pairs, each said track having a leg thereof located so that its cross-section is in a horizontal plane.

As shown in Fig. 27, the solenoid ||1a is supplied with current from the line 2|8. This line has a switch in the box 2|9. This line delivers ordinary commercial alternating current, having a voltage of 110 volts and 60 cycles per second. The solenoid or coil I |1a is of the type which produces a. magnetic force of xed direction, although it is energized by alternating current. A

motor, the plunger |26 is raised so as to move the arms of the switch 259 to the br'oken line position illustrated in Fig. 27. The switch 259 therefore remains closed during the cycle, while the motor 54 is running.

Fig. 27 also shows the synchronous motor 65a, which can be connected to the line 2 |5 by means of the manually operated switch 2|4.l This line delivers single-phase current of 220 volts. The

. motor 54 is started by means of the conventional rectier could be included in the circuit of tl^ solenoid or coil ||1a, so as to supply direct current. Whenever we refer to a solenoid or coil or motor or relay, we include all types of electrically operated devices. Likewise the invention is not limited to an electrical control system.

The line 2|8 is coupled by a step-down transformer 220 to the line 241, to which a six-volt current is supplied. The line 241 supplies current to the coils or solenoids of various relays. Said six-volt line has the switches 259 and 260. The switch 259 is biased to normal closed position. The switch 260 is biased to normal open position.

At the beginning of the cycle the locking bar I I2 is in the locking recess of the disc ||6. Fig. 27 shows the-projection ||2a of the locking bar ||2, and it shows how this projection ||2a maintains the switch 260 in closed position, when the spring I|5 maintains the bar I|2 out of the recess in the disc |06. At the beginning of the cycle, since the bar ||2 is in the locking position, its projection |2a releases the switch 260, which is then open. Fig. 27 also shows the notched cam-sleeve 52d of the shaft 52. At the beginning of the cycle, the parts of the switch "line starter relay 22|, which is energized when the movable switch arm 26|a touches the terminal 226. At the beginning of the cycle, andas shown in Fig. 27, the switch arm 26|a is spaced from the terminal 226. 1

I'he circuit of the solenoid |1a has the normally closed switches 221 and 251 and the normally open switch |21. Since the motor is now stationary, the plunger |26 now maintains the switch |21 in closed position.

Closing the inlet valves The first operation in thecycle is to close the inlet valves. A safety control, which will be later described, is provided so that the machine will not operate unless all the inlet valves are closed. This is to prevent steam and Water and air from shooting out of the casings. Referring to Fig. 28, the slide valve 24| of the motor I 51 is connected by suitable means (not shown) to the cores of the solenoids 242 and 243. These solenoids can be ener-gized by the current which is supplied through the 11G-volt line 2|8. y

Each of the solenoids 242 and 243 has one end thereof -ccnnected directly to one side of the line 2|8. The other end of the solenoid 242 is connected to the terminal 245, and the other end of the solenoid 243 is connected to the terminal 244. The other side of the line 2l9 is connected to a movable switch arm 246.

In the position of the switch arm 246 which is shown in Fig. 28, the solenoid 242 has just been cie-energized, and the solenoid 243 has just been energized by moving member 246 into contact with member 244. The core of the solenoid 243 will be moved from left to right, thus actuating the slide-valve 24| of the motor |51,.t0 a. position in which said motor will close the inlet valves and hold them closed. The core of the de-energized solenoid 242 will also be moved from left to right, since both cores are connected to slide-valve 24|. The switch arm 246 is actuated by a relay which is of the type previously shown in Fig. 12. The solenoid 340 corresponds to the solenoid |00. The solenoid 340 has a circuitlocking switch 34| which corresponds to the circuit-locking members |05 and |05a of Fig. 12. 'I'he switch arm 246 corresponds to the switch arm |04, and the contacts 244 and 245 correspond respectively to the contacts |04b and |04a.

In Fig. 12 it will be noted that the wire 96a of the switch X and the wire |0| of the switch Y have a common connection to the line wire W of the six-volt circuit.

One end of the solenoid 340 is directly connected to the line wire Wb of the six-volt circuit.

8 asados? The other Aend of the solenoid 346 is connected to the wire 336.

Referrin to Fig. 30. the wire 338 is connected to one side of the normally open switch 331. which is located on the bar E. This normally open switch, like the other normally open switches which are located on `the respective bars. is of the type of the switch X. The other side of the switch 331. is connected to the wire 336, which corresponds to the wire 36a of Fig. 12. As soon as the solenoid 346 is energized, it closes the locking switch 34|. Therefore, after the head 68 has released the switch 331, the current passes from the line wire Wb through the solenoid 346. through the closed locking switch 34|, and to the wire 342.

Referring to Fig. 30, the wire 342 is connected to one side of the normally closed switch 343.

which is mounted upon the bar A. The other side of the switch 343 is connected by means of the wire 333e to the line wire W. The connection of the wire 338e to'the line wire W is not shown in Fig. 28, because the wires 339 and 333e have acommon connection to said line wire W. Just as the wires 66a and |0| of Fig. 12 have a common connection to the line wire W.

The inlet val-ves will remain open until the head 66 has been moved away from the bar E and until said head 63 opens the switch 343 on the bar A. This normally closed switch 343 and the other normally closed switches on the bars, are of the type of switch Y.

As soon as the solenoid 348 has been de-energized, a biasing spring (not shown) moves the switch arm 246 to contact with the terminal 244, 35 and the locking switch 34| is opened, since it is biased to opening position.

The inlet valves are therefore closed by opening normally closed switch 343. The inlet valves are opened by closing the normally open switch 331.

Releasing the stop bar and starting the motor After the inlet valves have been closed, the next, operations are to release the locking bar ||2, and to start the motor 54. The locking bar |2 should be released before the motor is started. in order to prevent jamming. The solenoid ||1a must therefore be de-energized in order to enable the spring ||5 to move the locking bar ||2 out of locking position, before the motor 64 is started. As previously stated, the circuit of solenoid ||1a has the normally closed switches 221 and 251 and the normally open switch |21. Switch |21 is shown closed in Fig. 27, as previously stated, because plunger |26 of the governor now holds switch |21 closed. The solenoid ||1a is now deenergized by energizing the control solenoid 26| of Fig. 27. This opens the switch 251 and closes the locking switch 210 of solenoid 26|. One end of the control solenoid 26| is directly connected to the line wire Wa, which is connected to one side of thel six-volt line 241 through the safety switch 253, whose function will be later described. The other end of the control solenoid 26| is connected to wire 262, which is connected to one side of the normally open switch 263 on the bar A. The other side of said switch 263 is connected by the wire 264 to the line wire W. One side of the locking switch 210 is connected to the wire 21.| which is connected to one side of the normally closed switch`213, which is located on the bar D. The other side of the switch 213 is connected to the wire 21|a, which has a common connection with the wire 264 to the line wire W.

5 opened, by opening switch 213.

The next operation is to'energize the solenoid 226. One end of the solenoid 226 is connected to the line wire Wa. The other end 4of the solenoid 226 is connected to the wire 230, which is connected to one side of the normally openv switch 233 on the bar A. The other side of said switch 233 is connected by the wire 23| to the line wire W. One side of the locking switch 228 of the solenoid 226 is connected to the wire 232.

which is connected to one side of the normally closed switch 336 of the bar D. The other side of the switch 336 is connected to one side of the normally closed switch 266e, which is located on the bar B. The other side of said switch 268a is connected to the wire 23|, which is connected to the line wire W. Therefore, the solenoid 226 will be de-energized if either of the switches 336 and 266a are opened. When the solenoid 226 is energized, it opens the switch 221,

g5 as it closes the switch of the line starter 22|,

not opened by the solenoid 26|, the switch 221 will be opened when the switch arm 26|a. is moved against the terminal 226 in order to energize the line starter 22 I.

Admttng low-pressure steam for pre-heating the canned milk or other food product 'I'he drain valves 226a are kept open for a short time after the low-pressure steam is admitted, in order to remove air from the casings 2a, 3a, 4a, The automatic controls for regulating the pressure within said casings, when water or steam or air is supplied thereto, will be later described. Fig. 2 shows one of the motors 221a, of the type previously mentioned, for operating 4;, a drain valve 226a. This motor has two circuits of 'the type previously described. 'I'hese circuits have stationary terminals 28| and 262 which are shown in Fig. 28, between which a switch blade 263 can be moved, so as to contact with either of said terminals 28| and 282. Fig. 28

shows the normal or biased position of the switch blade 283, in which the drain valve is open. The terminal 28| is directly connected to one side of one of the circuits of the motor 221.

f5 The terminal 282 is connected to the circuit of 28| to the terminal 282, thus supplying power to the valve-closing circuit of the motor 221a to close the drain valve 226a. At the same time, the locking switch 265 of the solenoid 264 will be closed. One end of the solenoid 284 is connected to the line wire Wb. The other end of the solenoid 284 is connected by wire 286 to the normally open switch 288 of the bar A. The other side of the switch 288 is connected by wire 286 to the line wire W. 'I'he locking switch 285 has one side thereof connected to the wire 281, 

